Without everybody knowing and telling, I co-authored the creation of the Army Signal Regiment with my classmate, Dante Costes, in 2006, 10 years ago. We were still both colonels then. He was the Chief of Army Management Information Center (AMIC) and I was the Deputy G6. The proposal was known earlier as the Army Signal Brigade. However, a brigade refers to a unit that is composed of mixed arms while a regiment refers to a unit which is composed of the same distinction or AFPOS. Our proposal is composed mainly of signal officers. Thus, the word regiment was rightly used. Now retired from the military service and working at DND, I found and encounter the proposal again at the same condition as where Dante and I left it …

I understand the decision of the chairman to deny the activation of the Army Signal Regiment (P) due to non-operational readiness on both personnel and equipage, having only an R4 ratings (less than 50% fill up). For me, I admire his decision and really expect it coming. He is perfectly right! He followed everything according to the rule book, the manual references on TOE of battalions. On the other hand, the presentor really failed to dazzle the chairman, including me…
The meeting was adjourned. The chairman advised the group to improve the operational readiness of the Regiment to at least R2: to add more personnel or lessen the 10 battalions to 3.

I was expecting, I would be able to loosen his heart with my explanation; but still he told the group that they will be facing a hard time convincing the Undersecretary for Defense Operations (USDO) with that statistics.

I told the chairman that the Signal Corps must not be treated or compared with the combat arms i.e. infantry, armor, special forces, rangers; nor combat support units i.e. artillery and engineers. These units need able-bodied men and must be manpower intensive. The chairman said the engineers does not need many men because they just operate engineering equipment. I was afraid to offend him by telling that in the construction of schoolhouses, it is still better to have more men; because with more, they can finish their projects much sooner. The same with Combat arms, it is alway better to outnumber enemies. However, he commended the Signal Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division for doing a good job even they are composed of a few good men when he was with the division. I was holding my reasons. I wanted to tell him that the more he should recommend the approval of the activation of ASR! It is better to deliver with few men than cannot deliver with so many men. The more I held back. There is no place for sarcasm in arguments.

However, I told the chairman that it is not the fault of ASR to be R4 in personnel and equipage. The unit cannot do anything but request and plead for additional men from HPA. If nothing is given to ASR, they should not be penalized. We should pay more attention in performance and delivery of goods. The Signal Corps can automate lots of things doing away with manpower. For example in telephone switching, the black box replaces the large number of telephone operators, the out sourcing of support and more. The ASR must continue maintaining one Signal battalion to every infantry division than having an oversized company – for ratio and proportion. I also believe that there will be a time that everybody will see and realize the shift in paradigm and cyber warfare will be given more importance. This shortages would be filled up then.

Until now. I can feel the discrimination. Sa bigayan ng grasya palaging huli ang Signal Corps. If you are the G1, to whom will you give additional men? Infantry or Signal? If you are the G4, whom will you prioritize to fill up their armaments and equipment? Infantry or Signal? The R4 rating is not under the control of the ASR and yet they are being penalized, even they have performed well above the given expectations and standard, as everyone is saying. I have no complaints if the approval is denied for the reason or alibi that ASR terribly failed to deliver mandated tasks due to manpower shortage.

Please give also the Signal Corpsmen what is due them – attention, respect and pride! The unit have been lingering long enough compared to the waiting time of the mechanized brigade and the artillery as probitional unit. They are begging for your mercy and their understanding. They know their place. They will remain as combat support during landwarfare. They cannot sit side-by-side with the elite. However, every signaleer will cover their backs, absorb the blame and answer for their failures, so to speak. They will continue their services and give full dedication to make you and the different combat arms satisfied…

I am, therefore, praying and serving my existence and purpose on earth to move for the activation of ASR as a regular force!! Anybody seconding my motion? The ASR will also be our main force in DND to defend the country from cyber attacks! Activate ASR now and let us require later their higher-ups to give them the necessary number of men  and equipment they lack to raise their level of rating to R2…